A caller who has struggled with scrupulosity for 20 years—and now sees the same patterns in her daughter—asked Father Simon what true holiness looks like. She fears that her obsessive perfectionism has harmed her family and wonders how to “be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect” without becoming perfectionist. Father Simon turned to the Greek word for “perfect,” teleios, which means reaching the goal or going the full distance—not being flawless. God’s perfection is not meticulous rule-keeping but love itself: to will the good of another. Jesus commands us to love as He loves and to forgive as He forgives, to the same degree and in the same way. God forgets sins completely; He is not fixated on performance. Real holiness focuses on the Father’s goal—sacrificial love—rather than flawless execution or never making mistakes.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

A caller who has struggled with scrupulosity for 20 years&mdash;and now sees the same patterns in her daughter&mdash;asked Father Simon what true holiness looks like. She fears that her obsessive perfectionism has harmed her family and wonders how to &ldquo;be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect&rdquo; without becoming perfectionist. Father Simon turned to the Greek word for &ldquo;perfect,&rdquo; teleios, which means reaching the goal or going the full distance&mdash;not being flawless. God&rsquo;s perfection is not meticulous rule-keeping but love itself: to will the good of another. Jesus commands us to love as He loves and to forgive as He forgives, to the same degree and in the same way. God forgets sins completely; He is not fixated on performance. Real holiness focuses on the Father&rsquo;s goal&mdash;sacrificial love&mdash;rather than flawless execution or never making mistakes.
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

The Best of the Week

How to Be Perfect (Father Simon Says)

Marker 08

Marker 01

Inside an NFL stadium late last month, the Church marked a new kind of digital encounter. Pope Leo joined the National Catholic Youth Conference at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis by live video, speaking to young Americans in their own Midwestern accent. Filmmaker Rob Kaczmark of Spirit Juice Studios, whose team was on-site capturing the moment, said it felt special even then, and he believes that in 10 or 20 years we’ll understand just how extraordinary it really was.

Rather than scolding technology, he spoke like a father who understands the tools his children are using. “AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence,” he told them. Using AI responsibly, he said, means using it only in ways that help you grow in dignity and holiness – and, very practically, “don’t ask it to do your homework for you.”

He warned that “it cannot offer real wisdom” and that AI “will not judge between what is truly right and wrong.” No algorithm can stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God’s creation or form real friendships. Spiritually, he reminded the young adults that these years are for “deepening your friendship with God and becoming more like Him,” and for learning to think clearly, examine reality, and search for truth, beauty, and goodness with God’s grace.

Behind the scenes, Rob and his team were simply praying everything would work; the teens just assumed it would. After an hour of jokes, questions, and real-time interaction with the Holy Father, the day culminated in Eucharistic Adoration in the same space. Long lines for confession throughout the weekend showed how deeply the Holy Spirit was moving those young hearts.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Inside an NFL stadium late last month, the Church marked a new kind of digital encounter. Pope Leo joined the National Catholic Youth Conference at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis by live video, speaking to young Americans in their own Midwestern accent. Filmmaker Rob Kaczmark of Spirit Juice Studios, whose team was on-site capturing the moment, said it felt special even then, and he believes that in 10 or 20 years we&rsquo;ll understand just how extraordinary it really was.
Rather than scolding technology, he spoke like a father who understands the tools his children are using. &ldquo;AI can process information quickly, but it cannot replace human intelligence,&rdquo; he told them. Using AI responsibly, he said, means using it only in ways that help you grow in dignity and holiness &ndash; and, very practically, &ldquo;don&rsquo;t ask it to do your homework for you.&rdquo;
He warned that &ldquo;it cannot offer real wisdom&rdquo; and that AI &ldquo;will not judge between what is truly right and wrong.&rdquo; No algorithm can stand in authentic wonder before the beauty of God&rsquo;s creation or form real friendships. Spiritually, he reminded the young adults that these years are for &ldquo;deepening your friendship with God and becoming more like Him,&rdquo; and for learning to think clearly, examine reality, and search for truth, beauty, and goodness with God&rsquo;s grace.
Behind the scenes, Rob and his team were simply praying everything would work; the teens just assumed it would. After an hour of jokes, questions, and real-time interaction with the Holy Father, the day culminated in Eucharistic Adoration in the same space. Long lines for confession throughout the weekend showed how deeply the Holy Spirit was moving those young hearts.
<hr>
The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Pope Leo’s Wake-Up Call on AI and Holiness (Morning Air)

On Marriage Unhindered, Doug Hinderer sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Johann D'Souza to explore “optimal work,” a practical approach he learned from his mentor, Harvard psychiatrist Kevin Majors. Optimal Work, he explains, is about working at your best so you can live at your best – using modern neuroscience to bring your highest ideals into each hour of the day, especially when anxiety is high around the holidays and family demands.

At the heart of the method is the “Golden Hour”: one protected hour when you pour maximum intensity and meaning into a single task by focusing on how you work, not just what you get done. You begin with a few minutes of silence, reconnecting with why you’re doing this work for your loved ones and for God, then lay out clear steps – each no longer than 15 minutes. You set a timer, start, and stretch yourself. That one focused hour builds momentum, clears your mind, and turns work into an engine for personal holiness instead of just a to‑do list. 

Dr. D’Souza contrasts this with “activism,” the urge to just dive in and stay busy – even if you’re racing down rabbit holes in the wrong direction. The Golden Hour trains prudence as directed by St. Thomas Aquinas: through deliberation, judgement, then commanding yourself to act. It also fosters contemplation, the true purpose of life and life in Heaven, where we live in God’s presence like the saints who made each person feel like the only one in the world.

Practically, he advises guarding your “perimeter”: clear your desk, close extra tabs, put your phone in another room, and find a quiet space. A few slow breaths can become a simple Jesus prayer – “Jesus” on the inhale, “I love you” on the exhale – bringing peace to your body and heart before you begin. Used daily, especially in the holiday rush of planning, shopping, and family gatherings, the Golden Hour can turn even ordinary tasks into a school of trust, discipline, and love.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

On Marriage Unhindered, Doug Hinderer sits down with clinical psychologist Dr. Johann D'Souza to explore &ldquo;optimal work,&rdquo; a practical approach he learned from his mentor, Harvard psychiatrist Kevin Majors. Optimal Work, he explains, is about working at your best so you can live at your best &ndash; using modern neuroscience to bring your highest ideals into each hour of the day, especially when anxiety is high around the holidays and family demands.
At the heart of the method is the &ldquo;Golden Hour&rdquo;: one protected hour when you pour maximum intensity and meaning into a single task by focusing on how you work, not just what you get done. You begin with a few minutes of silence, reconnecting with why you&rsquo;re doing this work for your loved ones and for God, then lay out clear steps &ndash;&nbsp;each no longer than 15 minutes. You set a timer, start, and stretch yourself. That one focused hour builds momentum, clears your mind, and turns work into an engine for personal holiness instead of just a to‑do list.&nbsp;
Dr. D&rsquo;Souza contrasts this with &ldquo;activism,&rdquo; the urge to just dive in and stay busy &ndash;&nbsp;even if you&rsquo;re racing down rabbit holes in the wrong direction. The Golden Hour trains prudence as directed by St. Thomas Aquinas: through deliberation, judgement, then commanding yourself to act. It also fosters contemplation, the true purpose of life and life in Heaven, where we live in God&rsquo;s presence like the saints who made each person feel like the only one in the world.
Practically, he advises guarding your &ldquo;perimeter&rdquo;: clear your desk, close extra tabs, put your phone in another room, and find a quiet space. A few slow breaths can become a simple Jesus prayer &ndash;&nbsp;&ldquo;Jesus&rdquo; on the inhale, &ldquo;I love you&rdquo; on the exhale &ndash; bringing peace to your body and heart before you begin. Used daily, especially in the holiday rush of planning, shopping, and family gatherings, the Golden Hour can turn even ordinary tasks into a school of trust, discipline, and love.
<hr>
The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

How to Optimize Your Time and Calm Your Mind (Marriage Unhindered)

On Trending with Timmerie, host Timmerie looks at a surprising Gen Z shift: women saying no to casual sex and stepping away from hookup culture. A 2025 national study on modern love and dating, conducted with datingadvice.com and the Kinsey Institute, points to a quiet revolution: fewer one-night stands, fewer no-commitment relationships, and a growing share of Gen Z calling themselves “celibate” or abstinent.

Casual intimacy often leaves women anxious and distressed, because their bodies and souls are wired for real commitment. Women carry babies, release more oxytocin during intimacy, and bond more deeply after sex. That design is a gift when intimacy is lived as a conjugal union within marriage – ordered to the good of spouses, children, and our sanctification.

But knowing you don’t want hookup culture is one thing; knowing how to say no is another. Drawing on Sarah Hernholm’s work at Evie Magazine, Timmerie walks through scenarios with concrete phrases: “I’m not feeling like having this tonight.” “I’m not comfortable continuing.” “I’m not doing casual anymore. If you want to keep seeing me, let’s date.” Clear, calm words that leave no room for negotiation.

She even addresses unsafe situations, urging women to leave quickly and without apology – your safety comes first. After years in crisis-pregnancy work and sidewalk counseling, Timmerie has seen how a firm “no” can protect your life and future. And when we fall, Christ never leaves us stuck: we keep practicing chastity, get back up, and run again to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation.

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

On Trending with Timmerie, host Timmerie looks at a surprising Gen Z shift: women saying no to casual sex and stepping away from hookup culture. A 2025 national study on modern love and dating, conducted with datingadvice.com and the Kinsey Institute, points to a quiet revolution: fewer one-night stands, fewer no-commitment relationships, and a growing share of Gen Z calling themselves &ldquo;celibate&rdquo; or abstinent.
Casual intimacy often leaves women anxious and distressed, because their bodies and souls are wired for real commitment. Women carry babies, release more oxytocin during intimacy, and bond more deeply after sex. That design is a gift when intimacy is lived as a conjugal union within marriage &ndash; ordered to the good of spouses, children, and our sanctification.
But knowing you don&rsquo;t want hookup culture is one thing; knowing how to say no is another. Drawing on Sarah Hernholm&rsquo;s work at Evie Magazine, Timmerie walks through scenarios with concrete phrases: &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not feeling like having this tonight.&rdquo; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not comfortable continuing.&rdquo; &ldquo;I&rsquo;m not doing casual anymore. If you want to keep seeing me, let&rsquo;s date.&rdquo; Clear, calm words that leave no room for negotiation.
She even addresses unsafe situations, urging women to leave quickly and without apology &ndash; your safety comes first. After years in crisis-pregnancy work and sidewalk counseling, Timmerie has seen how a firm &ldquo;no&rdquo; can protect your life and future. And when we fall, Christ never leaves us stuck: we keep practicing chastity, get back up, and run again to the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation.
<hr>
The best way to listen to the&nbsp;Best of the Week&nbsp;is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free, and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out&nbsp;<a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

How to Be Perfect (Father Simon Says)

The Best of the Week

In 1 playlist(s)

The Best of the Week

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips